- Professional development for Registered Nurses
- Learn to work in a mental health setting
- Gain leadership skills and enhance your practice
Program summary
Program type: Master of Mental Health Nursing
Award abbreviation: MMentalHlthNurs
Degree type: coursework
Study mode: on campus (blended)
Duration: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
Fee type 2012: Commonwealth supported places, postgraduate coursework places, international fee-paying places
Total courses: 8
USC program code: SC720
CRICOS code: 060945J. Limits apply to online courses, refer to program notes.
Become a specialty mental health nurse.
This program prepares registered nurses to function as specialty mental health nurses in a variety of mental health care settings. It aims to produce graduates who are critical thinkers that effectively use available evidence and reflective practices to enhance their clinical effectiveness.
The program enacts a vision for mental health where nurses work in partnerships with consumers, carers and other clinicians to promote the best possible mental health and well being for consumers and communities. The program aspires to provide education that inspires and equips graduates to work therapeutically and confidently with clients. We teach primary mental health care, acute care and recovery principles. We focus on developing skills in assessment, therapeutic work and nmotivation for change.
Examine social dimensions of mental health including contemporary cultural and social theories that shape how mental disorders are conceptualised and treated. Explore and critically reflect on political, moral and ethical perspectives relevant to the Australian mental health system. Develop your interpersonal skills through a variety of reflective practices such as peer review, consumer feedback, clinical supervision, mentorship and preceptorship.
Offered in an internal/blended mode, some courses lend themselves to weekly or regular class attendance throughout the semester, while others run in a series of full or part day intensive workshops with greater online support of students. Some courses in the Master of Mental Health Nursing are online only, however, students enrolled in online courses, also have access to course coordinators for consultations and enquiries. This flexibility in attendance responds to the varied work patterns of registered nurses and increases your ability to schedule university study around work commitments. For international students on a Student Visa — limits apply to online courses, refer to program notes.
A diversity of assessment methods are used to develop a wide range of advanced mental health nursing practices, and to allow you to focus on particular aspects of your mental health nursing practice that may be unique to your setting or interest. These include practice-based assignments, seminar presentations, group work, self-assessment, peer assessment, contract learning, and reflective assessment tasks.
Professional recognition
Graduates are eligible to apply to be credentialed as a Mental Health Nurse by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses. Credentialing entitles you to use the letters "MHN" after your name and to work in private practice under the mental health nurse incentive program. Students are expected to be working in a relevant area so that clinical experience is complementary.
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) - Registration
For professional registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), graduates are required to demonstrate English language skills at IELTS level 7 or equivalent. Test results from relevant examinations will generally need to be obtained within two years prior to applying for registration. Refer to the AHPRA website for registration information.
Enquiries
Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Tel: +61 7 5430 2869
Email: sheinfo@usc.edu.au
Admission requirements
Students will be registered nurses with a current licence to practice nursing in their State and would normally have completed a relevant undergraduate degree.
Students would normally be employed as a registered nurse in a mental health setting (unit of a hospital, community mental health team or similar) or where they would have access to children, adolescents or adults with mental health issues and/or disorders for the equivalent of two days per week for the duration of the program.
Applicants who are not currently employed in a clearly defined mental health setting or are enrolled in a general nursing transition to practice program that offers a placement in the mental health setting may be admitted at the discretion of the Program Coordinator.
International students will demonstrate an IELTS score of 7 on entry to the program and have gained registration as a nurse and a current or temporary licence to practise as a registered nurse in Queensland.
The program may appeal to international applicants who have mental health nursing qualifications in their own country. These applicants should be aware that completion of the program may not lead to Australian nursing registration.
Program structure
Program requirements and notes
- Students are required to complete 8 courses as listed below.
- Important: New students should complete their enrolment and obtain a student card as early as possible to enable access to the web-based learning modules that need to be completed before each workshop.
- Students will be registered nurses with a current licence to practice nursing in their State and would normally have completed a relevant undergraduate degree.
- A series of workshops will be held on campus, which are mandatory to attend. The workshop schedule and information about getting started on line will be available from the Program Leader via email: mmcallis@usc.edu.au
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
- International students on a Student Visa please note, you may enrol in no more than 2 courses via online mode (25 percent of your program). NUR721 Critical Social Work Practice and NUR713 Masters of Social Work Field Education 1 are both offered only via online mode. You must also ensure that you are enrolled in at least one on-campus course in each semester.
- Some courses in this program require project work and/or independent study and therefore have limited on-campus contact. Please refer to individual course descriptions.
- Refer to the University’s English language proficiency requirements
- When enrolling, please refer to the Study Plan.
Advanced courses (8)
6 required courses:
NUR721 Master of Social Work Field Education 2
NUR722 Critical Social Work in Health
NUR725 International Community Development and Global Justice
NUR726 Indigenous Australia and the State
NUR727 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
NUR728 Ethics and Professional Practice
PLUS select 2 courses from the following:
NUR713 Gender and Culture
NUR720 Organisational Contexts for Social Work Practice
SCS700 Indigenous Australia and the State
SCS706 Engaging Effectively with Aboriginal People
SCS707 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SCS708 International Community Development and Global Justice
Please note: NUR721 Research in Health Care is available online only.
Please note:
NUR713 Independent Study is available online only.
Study Plan
This Master of Mental Health Study Plan is for students commencing in the current Semester.
Year 1
- Six (6) required courses
- Two (2) elective courses:
One elective course should be studied in Semester 1 and one elective course should be studied in Semester 2.
Required courses: (6)
Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
---|---|---|---|
NUR721 International Business | |||
NUR725 | |||
NUR726 | |||
NUR722 Masters of Social Work Field Education 1 | |||
NUR727 Master of Social Work Field Education 2 | |||
NUR728 Social Research |
Please note: NUR721 Community Development and Social Action is available online only.
Elective courses (2)
Select 2 courses (24 units) from the following:
Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
---|---|---|---|
NUR713 Critical Practice with Trauma, Bereavement and Crisis | |||
SCS706 Working With Families | |||
SCS707 Understanding Cultural Diversity | |||
NUR720 Engaging Effectively with Aboriginal People | |||
SCS700 Community Development and Social Action | |||
SCS708 Critical Social Policy Analysis |
Please note: NUR713 Critical Practice with Trauma, Bereavement and Crisis is available online only.